JP2008302807A - Fuel consumption information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel consumption information display device, allowing conflicting state quantities related to fuel consumption to be directly and easily recognized respectively without lowering the degree of layout flexibility. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel consumption information display device to be mounted on a vehicle comprises an eco-meter 16 to display values related to fuel consumption in graph. The eco-meter 16 is provided with a fuel injection quantity display zone 23 to display a graph of fuel injection quantity of the vehicle, and a fuel display zone 21 to display a graph of an instantaneous fuel consumption value of the vehicle. The increase direction of the graph of the fuel injection quantity of the vehicle displayed on the fuel injection quantity display zone 23 and the increase direction of the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value displayed on the fuel display zone 21 are set in mutually opposite directions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel consumption information display device that displays vehicle fuel consumption information.

Conventionally, a fuel consumption information display device that displays vehicle fuel consumption information is known. In this type of fuel consumption information display device, in order to inform the driver of fuel consumption information well, for example, a pair of values such as instantaneous fuel injection amount / average fuel injection amount are displayed in a graph. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-236054 A

  By the way, since the fuel consumption information display device described above displays the same type of paired values in a graph, for example, when the fuel cut is performed, the instantaneous fuel injection amount graph decreases to “0”. Will not be displayed. Although some drivers can indirectly recognize the improvement in fuel efficiency by seeing the decrease in the instantaneous fuel injection amount and the average fuel injection amount slightly decreasing, both the instantaneous fuel injection amount and the average fuel injection amount can be recognized. Changes in a decreasing direction, and there is a problem that improvement in fuel efficiency cannot be recognized directly.

  On the other hand, in order to be able to directly recognize the improvement in fuel consumption, for example, by replacing the graph of the instantaneous fuel injection amount with the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption (km / l), the graph is increased when the fuel consumption is improved. Can be displaced. However, although an improvement in fuel efficiency can be recognized directly, nothing is displayed when the vehicle is stopped, and thus a deterioration in fuel efficiency cannot be recognized directly.

  In addition, there is a method that enables switching between the instantaneous fuel consumption and the instantaneous fuel injection amount described above, but it is necessary to watch the display unit. Furthermore, there is a method of displaying the instantaneous fuel consumption and the instantaneous fuel injection amount individually, but there is a problem that the degree of freedom in arrangement is reduced because a wider display space is required.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a fuel consumption information display device that can directly and easily recognize conflicting state quantities relating to fuel consumption without reducing the degree of freedom of arrangement.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 includes a graph display unit (for example, ecometers 16 and 116 in the embodiment) that is mounted on a vehicle and displays a value related to fuel consumption in a graph. In the fuel consumption information display device, the graph display unit displays a fuel injection amount or an accelerator opening graph of the vehicle (for example, fuel injection amount graphs 22 and 122 and an accelerator opening graph 222 in the embodiment). A graph of the first display area (for example, fuel injection amount display areas 23 and 123 and accelerator opening display area 223 in the embodiment) and the instantaneous fuel consumption value or average fuel consumption value of the vehicle (for example, instantaneous fuel consumption in the embodiment) A second display area (for example, fuel consumption display areas 21 and 121 in the embodiment) for displaying value graphs 20 and 120), The increasing direction of the fuel injection amount or accelerator opening graph displayed in the display area and the increasing direction of the instantaneous fuel economy value or average fuel consumption graph displayed in the second display area are in opposite directions. It is characterized by being set.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the fuel displayed in the first display region (for example, the fuel injection amount display region 123 and the accelerator opening display region 223 in the embodiment). Displayed in a graph of the injection amount or the accelerator opening (for example, the fuel injection amount graph 122 in the embodiment, the accelerator opening graph 222) and the second display area (for example, the fuel consumption display area 121 in the embodiment). The graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or the average fuel consumption value (for example, the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 120 in the embodiment) is a graph displayed in a substantially band shape, and is a graph of the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening degree graph. The starting point is provided on one end side of the graph display unit (for example, the ecometer 116 in the embodiment), and the starting point of the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or the average fuel consumption value , Characterized in that provided on the other end of the graph display area.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening displayed in the first display region (for example, the fuel injection amount display region 23 in the embodiment). A graph (for example, the fuel injection amount graph 22a in the embodiment) and a graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or average fuel consumption value displayed in the second display area (for example, the fuel consumption display area 21 in the embodiment) (for example, The graph 20a) of the instantaneous fuel consumption value in the embodiment is a graph displayed in a substantially band shape, and is a graph of the start point of the graph of the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening, and the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or the average fuel consumption value. The start point is provided in the approximate center of the graph display unit.

  The invention described in claim 4 is a graph of the fuel injection amount or accelerator opening (for example, the fuel injection amount graph 22 in the embodiment) and a graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or the average fuel consumption value (for example, implementation). The graph 20) of the instantaneous fuel consumption value in the embodiment is characterized by being displayed wider as it goes in the increasing direction.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the graph of the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening and the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or the average fuel consumption value are displayed in different colors.

  The invention described in claim 6 is characterized in that the first display area and the second display area are provided with a scale, and the range and unit of the scale are provided to be changeable.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first display area for displaying the graph of the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening and the second display area for displaying the graph of the instantaneous fuel efficiency value or the average fuel efficiency value are the same. Since the installation space can be reduced by being provided in the display unit as compared with the case of displaying on an individual display unit, there is an effect that the degree of freedom in installation can be improved.
In addition, the graph of the fuel injection amount or accelerator opening and the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or average fuel consumption value are different from each other in the increase timing, so the graph of the fuel injection amount or accelerator opening and the instantaneous fuel consumption value or average fuel consumption value At least one of the graphs is displayed. Therefore, there is an effect that the driver can directly and easily recognize the contradictory values related to the fuel consumption.
Further, the increase direction of the fuel injection amount graph or the accelerator opening graph and the instantaneous fuel consumption value or average fuel consumption value graph are in the opposite direction. For example, if one graph increases, the other graph decreases simultaneously. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to easily recognize how the current driving tendency changes by observing the change state of these graphs.

According to the invention described in claim 2, the graph of the first display area is increased from one end side toward the other end side, and the graph of the second display area is decreased from one end side toward the other end side. Therefore, there is an effect that it becomes easier for the driver to recognize the value related to the consumption of the fuel consumption by the synergistic effect by the increase / decrease of the graphs.
In addition, since the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening, the instantaneous fuel consumption value, or the timing of increase / decrease of the average fuel consumption value conflict with each other, it is possible to prevent the overlapping of the substantially belt-like graphs in which the increasing directions are opposite to each other. The distance from one end side to the other end side of the graph display unit can be shortened while improving visibility, and the degree of freedom in arrangement can be improved.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the starting point of each graph is provided at the approximate center of the graph display section, and the timing of increase / decrease of the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening, the instantaneous fuel consumption value, or the average fuel consumption value is determined. Since they are mutually contradictory, the effect that the driver can easily and directly recognize the value related to the fuel consumption without overlapping the substantially strip-like graphs in which the increasing directions are opposite to each other or displaying them in parallel. There is.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the visibility improves as the value related to the fuel consumption increases. Therefore, when the fuel efficiency is remarkable, this can be displayed with emphasis.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to more easily identify a value related to fuel consumption by displaying the graph in a different color for each graph.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, since the range and the unit can be displayed according to the driver's needs, there is an effect that the merchantability can be improved.

  Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, an example in which the fuel consumption information display device is provided on the instrument panel in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the instrument panel 1 is configured as a so-called combination meter, and includes a speedometer 2, a tachometer 3, and a fuel / water temperature meter 4. These speedometers, tachometers, and fuel / water thermometers are arranged in a so-called triple meter type, with a speedometer in the center, a tachometer on the left side, and a fuel / water thermometer on the right side. Further, the speedometer 2, the tachometer 3, and the fuel / water temperature meter 4 constitute a so-called analog meter, and each of the scales 5, 6, 7a, 7b arranged in an arc shape and the scales are slidably indicated. The hands 8, 9, 10 a and 10 b are provided.

  Further, the speedometer 2, the tachometer 3 and the fuel / water temperature gauge 4 are covered with panels 11, 12, and 13 having outer shapes along the scale arrangement on the base ends of the respective hands 8, 9, 10a and 10b. It has been broken. On the panel 13 of the fuel / water temperature gauge 4, a position display unit 14 for displaying the shift position of the vehicle is arranged. The above-described design of the instrument panel 1 is an example and may be arranged other than the triple meter type.

  By the way, in the speedometer 2 described above, a multi-information display 15 capable of displaying various information is arranged on the panel 12. The multi-information display 15 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long along the vehicle width direction, and can display values related to fuel consumption.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the multi-information display 15 is configured to be able to display an ecometer (ECO METER) 16 that displays a value related to fuel consumption in a graph. The ecometer 16 is provided with a horizontal axis 17 along the vehicle width direction, a scale 18 of an instantaneous fuel consumption value (km / L) is provided on the right side with respect to the origin “0”, and on the left side of the origin “0”. Is provided with a scale 19 for the fuel injection amount (cc / min).

  Further, the ecometer 16 has a fuel consumption display area 21 for displaying a graph 20 (see FIG. 3) of the instantaneous fuel consumption value along the scale 18 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value on the horizontal axis 17 described above, and a scale 19 of the fuel injection amount. A fuel injection amount display area 23 for displaying a graph 22 of the fuel injection amount is provided. Increase / decrease of the graph 20 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value displayed on the multi-information display 15 and the graph 22 of the fuel injection amount are controlled by a meter control unit (not shown). Here, the meter control unit changes the length of the fuel injection amount graph 22 based on the control information of the fuel injection amount of an engine control unit (not shown) that controls the engine. The length of the value graph 20 is changed based on the instantaneous fuel consumption value calculated based on the fuel injection amount and the detection result of the vehicle speed sensor. The fuel injection amount and the instantaneous fuel consumption value described above are in a trade-off relationship. When the fuel injection amount increases, the instantaneous fuel consumption value decreases, and when the fuel injection amount decreases, the instantaneous fuel consumption value increases.

  The fuel consumption display area 21 is formed in a substantially right triangle shape in which the dimension in the height direction gradually increases from the origin of the horizontal axis 17 to the right side. Further, in the graph 20 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value described above, the height dimension of the graph, that is, the width of the graph increases as the instantaneous fuel consumption value increases corresponding to the fuel consumption display region 21.

  On the other hand, the fuel injection amount display area 23 is formed symmetrically with respect to the shape of the fuel consumption display area 21 described above with respect to the origin, and the height gradually increases from the origin of the horizontal axis 17 to the left side. Increasing substantially right triangle shape. In the graph 22 of the fuel injection amount, the height dimension, that is, the width of the graph increases as the value of the fuel injection amount increases corresponding to the fuel injection amount display area 23. The case where the fuel consumption display area 21 is arranged on the right side and the fuel injection amount display area 23 is arranged on the left side with the origin of the horizontal axis 17 of the ecometer 16 as a reference has been described, but the arrangement may be reversed left and right. The shape of the region is not limited to a substantially right triangle as long as the height dimension increases in the increasing direction.

  The fuel injection amount graph 22 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 are displayed in different colors such as black and white, red and blue, and yellow and blue so that the driver can distinguish the difference at a glance. Has been. The color of the graph 22 of the fuel injection amount and the color of the graph 20 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value are not limited to the above combinations, and an easy-to-see combination may be appropriately selected according to the background color of the ecometer.

  Next, display examples of the ecometer according to the first embodiment described above will be described for each vehicle state based on FIGS. In the description of this display example, the lengths of the fuel injection amount graph 22 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 indicate the length in the direction along the horizontal axis 17.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a graph displayed by the ecometer 16 described above in a so-called idling state where the vehicle is not traveling. In this idling state, the fuel injection amount graph 22 showing the fuel injection amount (for example, about 20 cc / min) required for engine idling is displayed in the fuel injection amount display area 23 on the left side of the ecometer 16. . On the other hand, since the vehicle is not traveling, the instantaneous fuel consumption value is “0”, and nothing is displayed in the fuel consumption display area 21 arranged on the right side of the ecometer. Since the engine is warmed up immediately after the engine is started in the cold state, the engine speed increases more than the idling speed after warm-up, and the fuel injection amount increases significantly. In this case, the displayed fuel injection amount graph 22 shows a higher fuel injection amount than the fuel injection amount graph 22 shown in FIG. 2, and is displayed as a long graph in the horizontal axis direction.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a graph displayed on the ecometer 16 when the vehicle is in an acceleration state. When the vehicle is in an accelerating state, the accelerator pedal is generally depressed deeply by the driver, so that the value of the fuel injection amount of the vehicle increases in accordance with the accelerator pedal opening. At this time, in the fuel injection amount display area 23 on the left side of the ecometer 16, a fuel injection amount graph 22 indicating a fuel injection amount (about 200 cc / min in FIG. 3) higher than that in the idling state is displayed. On the other hand, in the fuel consumption display area 21, a graph 20 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value indicating a low instantaneous fuel consumption value (about 5 km / L in FIG. 3) is displayed. Here, since the height dimension (width) of each graph gradually increases as the fuel injection amount and the instantaneous fuel consumption value increase, the fuel injection amount is larger than the area of the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 when the vehicle is accelerated. The area of the graph 22 is displayed significantly wider. The values shown by the graphs 20 and 22 in FIG. 3 are examples, and both the fuel injection amount graph 22 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 change in accordance with the accelerator pedal opening.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a graph displayed on the ecometer 16 in a so-called fuel cut mode in which the fuel injection amount becomes zero when the vehicle is decelerated. In this fuel cut mode, the fuel injection amount is zero because the accelerator pedal is turned off and fuel injection is not performed. On the other hand, the instantaneous fuel consumption value is traveling with zero fuel consumption. Becomes infinity (∞). Therefore, the fuel injection amount graph 22 is not displayed, and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 extends from the entire fuel consumption display region 21, that is, from the center of the ecometer 16 to the right end.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a graph displayed on the ecometer 16 in a so-called cruise mode in which the vehicle is neither accelerating nor decelerating. When the vehicle is in the cruise mode, it is in a state after the acceleration of the vehicle is completed, and therefore, generally, the accelerator pedal opening is smaller and the vehicle speed is maintained higher than in the acceleration state described above. Therefore, when the vehicle is in the cruise mode, the fuel injection amount is lower than that in the acceleration state and higher than that in the idling state (about 70 cc / min in FIG. 5). That is, the fuel injection amount graph 22 is displayed shorter than in the acceleration state and longer than in the idling state. In the cruise mode, since the high vehicle speed is maintained with a relatively small fuel injection amount, the instantaneous fuel consumption value is higher than that during acceleration of the vehicle (about 16 km / L in FIG. 5). That is, the graph 20 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value is displayed longer than that in the acceleration state and shorter than when the vehicle is in the fuel cut mode.

  Here, when the vehicle is in the cruise mode, the influence of the accelerator pedal opening is large, and the larger the accelerator pedal opening, the longer the graph 22 of the fuel injection amount than the value shown in FIG. The graph 20 becomes shorter. Further, the smaller the accelerator pedal opening, the shorter the fuel injection amount graph 22 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 become. When the vehicle is in the cruise mode, it is preferable to set the range of the horizontal axis 17 so that the areas of both the fuel injection amount graph 22 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 are in an antagonistic state.

  Therefore, according to the first embodiment described above, the fuel injection amount display region 23 and the fuel consumption display region 21 are provided on the same ecometer 16, and the fuel injection amount display region 23 and the fuel consumption display region 21 are provided. That is, the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 and the fuel injection amount graph 22 are displayed on the ecometer 16 at the same time, so that the installation space can be reduced as compared with the case where each graph is displayed in an individual display space. Therefore, the degree of freedom of installation can be improved.

  Further, since the increase timings in the fuel injection amount graph 22 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 are opposite to each other, at least one of the fuel injection amount graph 22 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 is determined. The state is displayed on the ecometer 16 so that the driver can easily and directly recognize the contradictory fuel injection amount and instantaneous fuel consumption value.

  Further, the origin of the fuel injection amount graph 22 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 is provided at the approximate center of the ecometer 16, and the increase timings of the fuel injection amount and the instantaneous fuel consumption value are in conflict with each other. , 22 can be prevented from overlapping, and as a result, the driver can easily and directly recognize the value related to fuel consumption.

  By displaying the fuel injection amount graph 22 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 in different colors, it is possible to more easily identify the value related to fuel consumption.

  Further, the graph 22 of the fuel injection amount and the graph 20 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value increase the visibility (dimension) as the dimension (width) in the height direction gradually increases, so that the fuel efficiency is remarkable. When this happens, it can be displayed with emphasis, and as a result, the driver can recognize that the fuel efficiency is remarkable.

  In the first embodiment described above, the case where the height dimension of the graph gradually increases as the values indicated by the graph 22 of the fuel injection amount and the graph 20 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value increase has been described. As in the modification shown in FIG. 6, the fuel injection amount graph 22 a and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 20 a which are equal-width bar graphs may be used.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Similarly to the ecometer 16 of the first embodiment described above, the ecometer of the second embodiment is also displayed on the horizontally elongated multi-information display 15 disposed in the center portion of the speedometer 2. It is. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same portions as those in the first embodiment described above.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of an ecometer when the vehicle is stopped with the engine stopped. As shown in FIG. 7, the ecometer 116 has a display area (hereinafter simply referred to as a fuel consumption display area) 121 for displaying a graph of instantaneous fuel consumption values (km / L) and a graph of the fuel injection amount (cc / min). A display area (hereinafter simply referred to as a fuel injection amount display area) 123 to be displayed is arranged so as to overlap. Above the fuel injection amount display area 123, a horizontal axis 117a of the fuel injection amount is provided, and below the fuel consumption display area 121, a horizontal axis 117b of the instantaneous fuel consumption value is provided. The horizontal axis 117a of the fuel injection amount and the horizontal axis 117b of the instantaneous fuel consumption value are arranged in parallel along the width direction of the vehicle.

  In the horizontal axis 117a of the fuel injection amount, the origin “0” is arranged on one end side (right side in FIG. 7) of the multi-information display 15, and the other end side (FIG. The value increases toward the left in FIG. On the other hand, the horizontal axis of the instantaneous fuel consumption value is arranged such that the origin “0” is arranged on the other end side (left side in FIG. 7) of the multi-information display 15, and from the origin “0” to one end side of the multi-information display 15 ( The numerical value increases toward the right side in FIG. That is, the fuel injection amount graph 122 (see FIG. 9) displayed in the fuel injection amount display region 123 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 120 (see FIG. 9) displayed in the fuel consumption display region 121 have an increasing direction. The directions are opposite to each other.

  Here, the fuel injection amount and the instantaneous fuel consumption value mentioned above are values in which the increasing timings are opposite to each other. If the fuel injection amount increases, the instantaneous fuel consumption value decreases, and if the fuel injection amount decreases, the instantaneous fuel consumption value decreases. Each of the horizontal axes 117a, 117a, the above-described horizontal axes 117a, so as not to overlap the fuel injection amount graph 122 displayed in the fuel injection amount display region 123 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 120 displayed in the fuel consumption display region 121. A range of 117b is set.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a graph 122 of the fuel injection amount displayed in the fuel injection amount display region 123 and a graph 120 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value displayed in the fuel consumption display region 121 are each formed in a substantially band shape. Each bar is a bar graph, and the colors of the respective graphs are combinations of different colors such as white and black, red and blue, yellow and blue, etc. so that they can be distinguished at a glance, as in the first embodiment. Is displayed.

Next, display examples of the ecometer 116 according to the above-described second embodiment will be described for each state of the vehicle based on FIGS.
FIG. 8 shows an example of a graph displayed on the ecometer 116 according to the second embodiment when the vehicle is idling. In this idling state, a graph 122 of the fuel injection amount indicating the fuel injection amount (about 17 cc / min in FIG. 8) required for engine idling is displayed from the right end side of the ecometer 116. On the other hand, since the vehicle is not traveling in the idling state, the graph 120 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value is not displayed on the left end side of the ecometer 116. Since the engine is warmed up immediately after the cold start of the engine, the fuel injection amount graph is displayed longer in the increasing direction than the fuel injection amount graph shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a graph displayed on the ecometer 116 when the vehicle is in an accelerating state. Since the fuel injection amount display area 123 of the ecometer 116 has a fuel injection amount corresponding to the accelerator pedal opening, the fuel injection amount graph 122 has a higher value than that at idling (about 120 cc / min in FIG. 9). Show. Here, in the ecometer 116 shown in FIG. 9, the fuel injection amount graph 122 is displayed with a length from the right end of the fuel injection amount display region 123 to the left side slightly from the center of the ecometer.

  Further, a graph 120 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value indicating a low value (about 7 km / L in FIG. 9) is displayed in the fuel consumption display region 121 when the vehicle is in an acceleration state. The values of the fuel injection amount graph 122 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 120 shown in FIG. 9 are examples, and are not limited to these values. The fuel injection amount graph 122 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value The graph 120 indicates that the longer the accelerator pedal opening, the longer the length of the fuel injection amount graph and the shorter the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 120.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a graph displayed on the ecometer 116 in a so-called fuel cut mode in which the fuel injection amount of the vehicle becomes zero during deceleration or the like. In this fuel cut mode, the fuel injection amount is zero because the accelerator pedal is off and fuel injection is not performed. On the other hand, the instantaneous fuel consumption value is infinite because the vehicle is running without fuel consumption. Large (∞). Therefore, the fuel injection amount graph 122 is not displayed, and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 120 shows the maximum value, and is displayed in the entire length of the fuel consumption display region 121, that is, the length from the left end to the right end of the ecometer 116.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a graph displayed on the ecometer 116 when the vehicle is in the cruise mode. When the vehicle is in the cruise mode, the accelerator pedal opening is generally smaller and the vehicle speed is higher than in the acceleration state described above. In this cruise mode, the fuel injection amount is lower than the acceleration state and higher than the idling state (about 50 cc / min in FIG. 11), so the length of the fuel injection amount graph is It is shorter than the acceleration state and longer than the idling state.

  In addition, since the high vehicle speed is maintained with the fuel injection amount being small in the cruise mode of the vehicle, the instantaneous fuel consumption value is higher than that during acceleration and lower than that in the fuel cut mode. The length of the graph is longer than the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value at the time of acceleration, and shorter than the graph of the fuel cut mode (in FIG. 11, about 18 km / L). Here, the larger the accelerator pedal opening, the longer the fuel injection amount graph 122 and the shorter the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 120. Further, as the accelerator pedal opening is smaller, the fuel injection amount graph 122 becomes shorter and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 120 becomes longer. In the cruise mode, the ranges of the horizontal axes 117a and 117b are preferably set so that the areas of both the fuel injection amount graph 122 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph 120 are in an antagonistic state.

  Therefore, according to the second embodiment described above, the graph 122 of the fuel injection amount displayed in the fuel injection amount display region 123 increases from the right end side to the left end side of the ecometer 116, and the fuel consumption display region 121. Since the graph 120 of the instantaneous fuel consumption value displayed on the graph shows a decreasing direction from the right end side toward the left end side, when one of the graphs 120 and 122 increases, the other decreases. It becomes easier for the driver to recognize the value related to the consumption of the vehicle.

  In addition, the timings of increase / decrease in the fuel injection amount and the instantaneous fuel consumption value are in conflict with each other, and the increasing directions are in opposite directions, so that the substantially band-shaped graphs 120 and 122 overlap. It can be prevented from becoming hard to see. Further, since the substantially band-shaped graphs 120 and 122 are not displayed in parallel along the increasing / decreasing direction of the graphs 120 and 122, the distance from the right end side to the left end side of the ecometer 116 is improved while improving the visibility. As a result, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the ecometer 116 can be improved.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the fuel injection amount graphs 22 and 122 and the instantaneous fuel consumption value graphs 20 and 120 are displayed has been described. However, the unit of the graph to be displayed has a trade-off relationship with respect to the fuel consumption. Any unit may be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a graph 222 of the accelerator opening may be displayed in the accelerator opening display area 223 as the horizontal axis 117c of the accelerator opening (%) instead of the fuel injection amount described above. Furthermore, instead of the instantaneous fuel consumption value graph, a graph of average fuel consumption within a predetermined time (not shown) may be displayed.

  Further, the range and unit of each scale may be configured to be changeable according to the driver's preference, and when configured in this way, further improvement in merchantability can be achieved.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where each graph linearly increases or decreases along the horizontal axis has been described. However, for example, a graph other than a linearly increasing graph such as a pie graph or a graph increasing in an arc shape You may apply to.

  Furthermore, in the graphs of the above embodiments, the increasing direction is set to the vehicle width direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vertical direction or the diagonal direction according to the arrangement space on the instrument panel. It may be set as appropriate.

It is a front view of the instrument panel in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the ecometer at the time of idling in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the ecometer at the time of acceleration in the 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the ecometer at the time of deceleration in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the ecometer at the time of the cruise in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the ecometer in the modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the ecometer at the time of a stop in the engine stop state in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the ecometer at the time of idling in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the ecometer at the time of acceleration in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the ecometer at the time of deceleration in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the ecometer at the time of the cruise in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the ecometer in the modification of each embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

16,116 Ecometer (display unit)
22, 22a, 122 Graph of fuel injection amount 23, 123 Fuel injection amount display area (first display area)
222 Accelerator opening graph 223 Accelerator opening display area (first display area)
20, 20a, 120 Instant fuel consumption value graph 21, 121 Fuel consumption display area (second display area)

Claims (6)

In a fuel consumption information display device that is mounted on a vehicle and has a graph display unit that displays a value related to fuel consumption in a graph,
The graph display unit includes a first display area for displaying a graph of the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening of the vehicle;
A second display area for displaying a graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or the average fuel consumption value of the vehicle,
The increasing direction of the graph of the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening displayed in the first display area and the increasing direction of the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or the average fuel consumption value displayed in the second display area are opposite to each other. A fuel consumption information display device characterized by being set in a direction to perform. The graph of the fuel injection amount or accelerator opening displayed in the first display region and the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or average fuel consumption value displayed in the second display region are displayed in a substantially band shape. And
The starting point of the fuel injection amount or accelerator opening graph is provided on one end side of the graph display unit,
2. The fuel efficiency information display device according to claim 1, wherein a starting point of the graph of the instantaneous fuel efficiency value or the average fuel efficiency value is provided on the other end side of the graph display unit. The graph of the fuel injection amount or accelerator opening displayed in the first display region and the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or average fuel consumption value displayed in the second display region are displayed in a substantially band shape. And
The starting point of the graph of the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening and the starting point of the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or the average fuel consumption value are provided at substantially the center of the graph display unit. The fuel consumption information display device described.   The fuel consumption information display device according to claim 3, wherein the graph of the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening and the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or the average fuel consumption value are displayed wider as they go in an increasing direction. .   The fuel consumption information according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the graph of the fuel injection amount or the accelerator opening and the graph of the instantaneous fuel consumption value or the average fuel consumption value are displayed in different colors, respectively. Display device.   The fuel consumption information display according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first display area and the second display area have a scale, and the range and unit of the scale are changeable. apparatus.

Images